the Fine line between everyday driver and performance...

[SnakeyVert]

Where do you draw the line on performance mods, for gas mileage and reliability? I use my cobra everyday for a work car (real estate appraiser) it has to remain very reliable. I was thinking about getting a Vortech S Trim kit for next spring, I want my car to see the 450HP mark, but after reading alot of posts, im starting to wonder if the numbers Im expecting put me into *weekend driver* territory. Would I be better off buying all the bolt ons and keeping it NA? Do you guys use your cars for everyday drivers with superchargers on em? I dont mean 15 miles back and forth to work, I mean at LEAST 75-150 miles a day....Thanks for the input guys!

AL

 

[Black96Snake]

with a good tune it should drive just like stock. And if you are not in the boost it won't be hard to handle or burn too much gas, get into it though and it will make you grin until you have to fill up every day.

However as a responsible stangnetter I must advise you that 450 is on the ragged edge of power that the stock block can handle. It could last 100,000 miles or 1 mile, you never know. Just have the finances avalible for a forged short block if it decides to blow, or your thumb could be getting plenty of exercise.

 

[Uncle Meat]

450RWHP on a stock bottom end '99 is pushing it as a DD... not sure how reliable that would be....

U.M.

 

[Emil]

You may want to see if you can pick up an '04 Cobra, 450hp is just $600 away!
Otherwise, maybe nitrous is the way to go for you?

 

[HISS]

I think if you want to drive that much horsepower on a daily basis you may have to consider what I did. I have a 03 cobra with the HP you want but that engine is built from the ground up and it is very reliable. When the factory has to guarantee the car it is a pretty sure bet it will last. I am in sales and drive it to work everyday and love it.

03 Red Convertable Cobra 10 Anniversary 1 of 369

 

[qtrracer]

I have an '01 - do 98 miles round trip to the office each day. I have the basic bolt-ons. That "line" is a tough one. Does "bolt-on" include a blower? In my experience, going beyond basic bolt-ons puts you into "tinker" territory in order to keep it running right and drivable. I don't have the time for that nor the coin to have it done. Buy the '03/'04 or do basic bolt-ons to the 99.

 

[SnakeyVert]

thanks for all the good advice guys, after thinking on it while i was working today, I realized that I was heading into that *tinker* territory, and this thing has to be 100% all the time, I dont have another car to fall back on, nor should I (we) need it for what we paid for these things... Its a fun, fast car, it should be kept reliable, which means im going to stay out of the big dollar items, namely, no blower.

This leaves me two things. I am going to ride this cobra till next fall, and buy a 2003-2004 Cobra now, and also take the advice of the guy that does almost 100 miles a day for work.... You know what the problem is, its just that *its never enough* you cant ever put a cap on what your happy with, yah know? My last work car was a 96 mitsubishi eclipse, based out, I gotta say the cobra kicks that car all to ****, but I still want more LOL. Next year, it will be the 04 cobra....(unless I wait till 06 for a new cobra)

In any case, Now I am at this stage. I am looking for some bolt ons that will make me happy. I want to edge out those slightly modded F bodies

I am looking at the American Thunder cat back, and a Bassani X pipe. do I want the one with cats, is it going to help me retain bottom end torque?

What is a good company for a cold air intake, do I want to change my MAF, TB, and advance, even tho im all stock? will these slight mods amount to anything, or are they *go faster* parts....

Thanks again for the input guys

Big AL